Transforming Growth Factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the Sera of Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Females.

Background: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity in postmenopausal females. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) play complex roles in normal bone metabolism, and in pathophysiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to design an analytic cross sectional study in order to further clarify the role of TGF-β1 and IL-18 in osteoporosis of postmenopausal females.

Association between Angiotensinogen M235T Polymorphism and Preeclampsia in Iranian Pregnant Women.

Objective: To determine the possible association between the M235T variant of angiotensinogen gene and preeclampsia in Iranian preeclamtic women with hypertension during pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: During a case control study, we used polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis to investigate the association between M235T polymorphism in preeclamtic women compared to normotensive controls.

Results: The M235T polymorphism was significantly associated with increased preeclampsia risk in the studied population as supported by a p value of 0.

Comparing the effects of dietary flaxseed and omega-3 Fatty acids supplement on cyclical mastalgia in Iranian women: a randomized clinical trial.

Considering the negative side effects of chemical drugs, there is a great need for effective alternative treatment strategies to manage cyclical mastalgia. Therefore, this study aimed at comparing the effects of flaxseed diet and omega-3 fatty acids supplement on treatment of cyclical mastalgia. In this study, 61, 60, and 60 women, respectively, received flaxseed as bread, omega-3 fatty acids as pearl, and wheat bread as their diet for two menstrual cycles.

FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from malignancy in women. CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are a subset of T lymphocytes with great inhibitory impact on immune response.

Objectives: To investigate the percentage of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of the Iranian patients with epithelial ovarian cancer compared to healthy women and to evaluate the correlation of the Treg cell percentage with clinicopathological characteristics including cancer stage and CA-125 serum level.

Anti-Nuclear Antibodies in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome before and after Laparoscopic Electrocauterization.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been suggested to be linked with autoimmune processes. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization has the potency to stimulate more autoimmune reactions in PCOS patients. In the present study, we considered anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) as the hallmark of autoimmune reactions, and investigated the serum level of these antibodies in 35 patients with PCOS (21-38 years old) pre and one-month after electrocauterization, and in 35 fertile healthy women (25-35 years old) as the control group.

HER2 Ile655Val Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Patients with Ovarian Cancer.

Background: The association between HER2 Ile655Val single nucleotide polymorphism and cancer is controversial.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate this polymorphism in patients with ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of 107 patients and 130 healthy women.

IL-17A is elevated in sera of patients with poorly differentiated ovarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma.

Background: IL-17A a member of IL-17 family of cytokines is an inflammatory cytokine produced by a subset of CD4+ T cells that links innate and adaptive immunity. IL-17A has been shown to be a key mediator of inflammation in autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection and cancers.

Objective: To investigate the level of IL-17A in sera of southern Iranian patients with papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of ovary and compare it with age-matched women of the same region.

Coding region polymorphisms in the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (INDO) gene and recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (INDO) catalyzes degradation of the indole ring of indoleamines and locally depletes tryptophan. INDO expression suppresses T cell proliferation and activation. Genetic variation in the INDO gene may contribute to the variable INDO enzyme expression, activity and severity of some diseases.

Genetic variation in TGF-beta 1 gene promoter and risk of gestational trophoblastic disease.

Objective: To examine the relationship of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) gene polymorphisms at promoter positions -509 (C/T) and -800 (G/A) with the risk of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) as compared to normal controls

Study Design: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed on peripheral blood of 102 patients with GTD and 124 normal, healthy, pregnant women as the control group.

Results: In this study, TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms at positions -509 (C/T) and -800 (G/A) failed to correlate with GTD.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that promoter gene polymorphisms of TGF-beta 1 do not play major roles in GTD and may not be risk factors for this disease.

PDCD1, CTLA-4 and p53 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Objective: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (also termed gestational trophoblastic diseases [GTDs]) encompass a spectrum of interrelated tumors originating from trophoblasts. The search is ongoing for identification of the culpable gene defects in GTDs. Considering the role of PDCD1, CTLA-4 and p53 genes in immune regulation and tumor progression, we explored the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) corresponding to each gene and GTDs.

Interleukin-18 gene promoter and serum level in women with ovarian cancer.

IL-18, initially defined as a potent inducer of IFN- gamma production, is a systemic, multifunctional cytokine with both pro-cancerous and anti-cancer activities. The contribution of the IL-18 promoter polymorphisms at positions -607 (C/A) and -137 (G/C) to cancer development has been reported. We sought to examine IL-18 serum level and its polymorphisms in Iranian women with ovarian cancer.

Interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphisms in women with gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Objective: Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTDs) consist of a spectrum of disorders characterized by an abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. IL-18 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a capacity for both ThI and Th2 polarization. Considering the association of IL-18 promoter polymorphisms at positions -607 (A/C) and -137 (C/G) with pregnancy events and some cancers, we sought to examine these polymorphisms in Iranian patients with GTD, their association with disease subtypes, and IL-18 serum level.

Investigation of soluble HER2 and transforming growth factor Beta-1 serum levels in gestational trophoblastic disease.

HER2/neu and TGF-beta1 are over-expressed in various types of malignancies. It appears that they play an important role in the biologic behavior of tumors and have prognostic value. Gestational tropoblastic diseases (GTDs) comprise of a heterogeneous group characterized by abnormally proliferating trophoblastic tissues, ranging from benign to malignant.

Determination of antiovarian antibodies after laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To determine whether ovarian damage consequent to laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization may result in the development of humoral autoimmunity and production of antiovarian antibodies (AOA).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Infertility and gynecologic endoscopy units of one of the medical university hospitals.

Factors influencing serum concentration of CA125 and CA15-3 in Iranian healthy postmenopausal women.

Screening for breast and ovarian cancers are required due to the late stage at diagnosis and poor survival. Serum CA125 and CA15-3 are important cancerdetecting agents in patients with ovarian and breast cancers, respectively. Elevation of CA125 and CA15-3 level correlates with malignant and non-malignant conditions.

Effectiveness of leukocyte immunotherapy in primary recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Background: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is defined as three or more sequential abortions before the twentieth week of gestation. There are evidences to support an allo-immunologic mechanism for RSA. One of the methods for treatment of RSA is leukocyte therapy; however there is still controversy about effectiveness of this method.

Polymorphism of TP53 codon 72 showed no association with breast cancer in Iranian women.

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy worldwide. Despite the high incidence of sporadic cases, the rate of familial breast cancer is low. The tumor suppressor gene TP53 (alias p53), located on chromosome 17, has been involved in various malignancies.

Interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphisms and recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Background: IL-18 is a multifunctional cytokine capable of inducing either Th1 or Th2 polarization depending on the immunologic milieu. IL-18 is detected at the materno-fetal interface very soon in early pregnancy. Two polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-18 gene at positions of -607 and -137 appear to have functional impacts.

Lack of association between the TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms and recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is produced by T regulatory lymphocytes (Treg), which play an important role in the physiology of pregnancy. Several polymorphisms of the TGF-beta1 gene (TGFB1) have been reported, some with an important correlation with TGF-beta1 production and disease severity. We performed an association study between TGFB1 polymorphisms and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

The promoter region (-800, -509) polymorphisms of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) gene and recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is regarded as a common pregnancy complication in southern Iran. The exact causes of RSA are not yet known. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is produced by T regulatory lymphocytes (Treg), which play an important role in the physiology of pregnancy.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 gene in breast cancer.

The exon 1 polymorphism (49A/G) of ctla-4 gene corresponds to an amino acid exchange (threonine to alanine) in the leader peptide of the expressed protein. There are reports concerning the higher level of G allele in subjects with various autoimmune diseases, which has resulted in the hypothesis that CTLA-4 may play a role in regulating self-tolerance by the immune system and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate the correlation of exon 1 (49A/G) polymorphism in the ctla-4 gene and breast cancer.

HLA-DQBl alleles and susceptibility to cervical squamous cell carcinoma in Southern Iranian patients.

The association of HLA class II with various autoimmune diseases has been extensively investigated. Despite the importance and functions of HLA genes in the evolution of cancer, the allele specific association of HLA molecules in cancer patients has not been well investigated. In this study the HLA-class II alleles frequency was investigated in Iranian patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma.